Project Gutenberg 2005-11-01 Public domain in the USA. 159 Houssaye, Arsène 1815 1896 Houssaye, Arsene Les grandes dames Produced by Carlo Traverso, Marc D'Hooghe and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team "Les grandes dames" by Arsène Houssaye is a novel likely written in the late 19th century, a reflection of the complexities of Parisian society during the Second Empire. The book explores themes of love, desire, and female archetypes, intertwined with historical and social commentary, particularly focusing on the reputation and influence of women in that era. The central character, Jean-Octave de Parisis, known as Don Juan de Parisis, navigates a world of romance and heartache, reflecting on the nature of his relationships with women and the societal expectations that surround them. At the start of the novel, the narrative introduces Octave de Parisis, an attractive and charismatic figure known for his charm and reputation among women. As he observes a beautiful young girl in the Bois de Boulogne, he is momentarily entranced by her presence, igniting his contemplation about love and the complexities that accompany it. The text sets the tone for Octave's internal struggle with emotional vulnerability and societal norms, emphasizing his fear of romantic entanglement. As he mingles within the upper echelons of Parisian society, the opening chapters also delve into the legends surrounding the Parisis family, hinting at a curse that haunts their lineage, thereby foreshadowing the tragic outcomes that may accompany love in their lives. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 81.5 (6th grade). Easy to read. fr France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction Nobility -- France -- Fiction Good and evil -- Fiction PQ Text FR Littérature Category: Romance Category: Novels Category: French Literature 1177217 2025-07-04T08:18:36.781331 text/html 1177038 2025-01-11T23:40:06.594533 text/html 501562 2025-07-04T08:18:48.740270 application/epub+zip 520413 2025-07-04T08:18:39.233308 application/epub+zip 520413 2025-07-04T08:18:37.802333 application/epub+zip 924698 2025-07-04T08:18:56.821255 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 833670 2025-07-04T08:18:47.678313 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 807117 2022-09-05T03:37:54.059570 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 1081205 2025-07-04T08:18:36.048380 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 1054600 2013-05-31T10:17:08 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18651 2025-07-04T08:18:56.957226 application/rdf+xml 13732 2025-07-04T08:18:38.293317 image/jpeg 3580 2025-07-04T08:18:38.047324 image/jpeg 396999 2013-05-31T10:19:58 application/octet-stream application/zip 490695 2025-07-04T08:18:36.870381 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog fr.wikipedia en.wikipedia